Clap Your Hands ‘Cause it’s July!

Holy cow, already? It still feels as though summer is just getting started. Regardless, the beginning of July is one of the highlights of the summer, and the fun begins today with a brand-new song of the month. (Actually, I wrote it last July…but it’s new to you!)

Picnics, ice cream, apple pie,
Clap your hands ‘cause it’s July!
The seventh month of the year,
For thirty one days July is here.

Wave your flag, way up high,
Celebrate the fourth of July.
Let’s all wear red, white, and blue,
Fireworks for me and you!

CHORUS

Independence is the word,
Patriotic songs are heard.
Let’s join in and sing out loud,
For our country we are proud.

CHORUS

Summer’s coming to a peak,
It gets hotter every week.
Hear the crickets chirp at night,
Until the morning sun shines bright.

CHORUS

What are your plans for the 4th of July? And do you have any festive songs to go along with this patriotic holiday? If so, please share :) July is already off to a busy start for me – my best friend is coming to town today, I’m playing at a new venue on Friday, and of course, Saturday will be filled with food, fun, and fireworks. The perfect trifecta, if you ask me.

Hooray for June!

At last, my very favorite month of the year has arrived. This first week of June is an eventful one: Tuesday is the last day of school and my first music therapy session of the summer at the Autism Program, Thursday I’m going to a Cardinals game with my dad and brother, and Friday is my birthday! Let the fun begin.

Aside from being the first day of June, today marks another momentous occasion – this is my 200th blog post! Holy cow, I can’t believe that in the last 9 months, I’ve written 200 posts. I hope you’ll stick around for the next 200 :)

But let’s get down to business. As you know, every month has its own song, and June is no exception. I think the June song might just be my favorite of the 12, but I’ll let you decide for yourself which one is your favorite.

Let’s all sing a happy tune,
And celebrate because it’s June!
Month number six for thirty days,
So go outside and catch some rays.

For part of June, we’re out of school,
Let’s go swimming at the pool.
But when our summer break has passed,
The days are fun and they go by fast.

CHORUS

Next to come is Father’s Day,
Whether near or far away.
We’ll thank him for the things he’s done
And tell him that he’s number one.

CHORUS

This is the month when summer starts,
That’s one of the best parts.
The days get longer as they go,
Which helps the flowers bloom and grow.

CHORUS

I have lots of last minute things to do before I say goodbye to school for a couple of months, so I’d better get to it! Enjoy the first day of June :)

May Day!

May is one of my favorite months of the year. As a kid, it meant that the school year was nearing the end, and now that I work in a school, that remains true! It is amazing to think that there are only four full weeks left before a nice little summer break, and then a much more relaxed summer school schedule.

There are a few other notable happenings this month, including Mother’s Day, my brother’s college graduation, and the day my husband and I have been waiting for…we’re getting a puppy! But in the meantime, let’s kick off the month of May with a song:

May is here, month number five,
Trees and flowers come alive.
Thirty one days from start to end,
So help me sing about May, my friend.

First comes May Day on day one,
Celebrate spring and have some fun.
Then don’t forget about Mother’s Day,
Each family honors Mom in its own way.

CHORUS

Memorial Day is a time that we
Should think about our history.
Let’s honor those who went to war,
And appreciate what they were fighting for.

CHORUS

We’ll have a break when May is through,
Summer time for me and you.
Play outside and sleep in late,
Enjoying our vacation will be so great.

CHORUS

What are you looking forward to this month? I am hoping for May flowers in place of the April showers we’ve been experiencing all week, but it looks like I’m not going to get my wish anytime soon. I am also hoping for a more relaxing weekend than the last one…we’ll see if that happens! Happy May Day to you all.

Happy Earth Day!

It’s April 22, which means it’s time to recycle, plant a tree, and be thankful for Mother Earth. Of course, we should do those things every day of the year, and today – Earth Day – only reinforces our awareness. What are you going to do to celebrate? The students at my school will be planting trees this afternoon on the school grounds, and I’ll be singing “Good Green Earth” from the album Good Morning Sun, Good Night Moon.

You won’t be surprised to hear that this was another great iTunes find, originally written and recorded by James K. I absolutely love this song, and it’s been a hit here at the Hope Institute for quite some time now. I love using shakers with this song – we shake them up high, down low, and in a circle during the chorus. Another plus is that we can work on days of the week and months of the year at the same time!

Have yourself a wonderful Earth Day…the forecast here is 70 degrees and sunny, so you know I will :) See you tomorrow!

California, Here I Come!

In just a few hours, my husband and I are taking off for a much-needed vacation in San Diego, where hopefully the weather will be warm and the sun will be shining. (Basically the polar opposite of central Illinois, where it is overcast and cold.) We have plans to explore the city, tour the San Diego Zoo, meet up with friends in L.A. for a Dodgers game, and enjoy our stay at the Hotel Del Coronado. Can you tell I’m excited?

Before I left, I wanted to stop by and say hello, as well as post some additional lyrics to the April Song, written by fellow music therapist Kim Gilbert. Here they are:

April 11th is Easter Day
The Easter Bunny came to hop and play
Hiding eggs and candy too
Yummy treats for me and you.

Birds will sing their happy songs
Robins and bluebirds chirp along
Cardinals and chickadees
Singing songs of Spring.

Cute, right!? To listen to the orginial version of the April Song, click here.

I’ll be returning late Sunday night, so make sure to come back on Monday for a photographic tour of my brand-new home office/studio. I can’t wait to see what you think!